Horizon 2020

02INTRODUCTION

Horizon 2020 was the EU Framework Programme for research and innovation 2014-2020. It was built upon three pillars which supported research and innovation for "Excellent Science", "Industrial Leadership" and for tackling seven "Societal Challenges".

Other priorities were addressed across all three pillars of Horizon 2020: e.g. social and economic sciences and humanities; international cooperation and the gender dimension are integrated in all research fields.

In total, a budget of euro 79.4 billion has been allocated to Horizon 2020 (incl. EURATOM). This was an increase of approximately 30 percent in real terms compared to the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

As Horizon 2020 put a stronger focus on innovation actions than earlier Framework Programmes for Research, the “European Institute of Innovation and Technology” (EIT) and parts of the former “Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme” (CIP) were integrated into Horizon 2020.